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Consumer Reports Issues Obamacare Tax Scam Warning

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Scammers are at it again, this time claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service.

They're taking aim at people who are covered under Obamacare and are exploiting confusion about the program. This latest scam is an email targeting people with insurance through the Affordable Care Act, alleging they owe additional money for their coverage.

Here are some red flags:

  • ŸConsumer Reports says that the IRS will never send you an email out of the blue. If money is owed, the notice will be sent by regular mail.
  • Ÿ The fake notice may instruct that the check be made out to "I.R.S." A real tax check is made out to the U.S. Treasury, not the IRS.
  • ŸAlso, the email may ask you to send the check to an address that is not an official IRS processing center.

If you get this type of fake IRS email, do not open any attachments or click on any links it may have.

Immediately forward it to phishing@irs.gov and then delete it, and then also delete the email from your trash file.

Complete Ratings and recommendations on all kinds of products, including appliances, cars & trucks, and electronic gear, are available on Consumer Reports' website. Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org.

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